Fastener



May 6, i947. A R, ADAMS 2,420,061

I FASTENER Filed May 28, 1945 I IN VEN TOR.

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BY y

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Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a connecting and fastening device of theparticular type disclosed in my co-pending patent application filedDecember 18, 1943, Ser. No. 514,807, and application Ser, No. 519,118,filed January 21, 1944.

The principal objects of my present invention are to generally improveupon and simplify the construction of the connecting and fastening meansforming the subject matter of my aforesaid co-pending applications, aswell as other existing forms of similar connecting and fasteningdevices; further, to provide a fastener of simple, strong, compact anddurable structure, which is quick acting in its closing function,capable of being easily and quickly released, and which may beadvantageously employed for detachably securing chairs, tables and thelike, to the floor, also for detachably connecting .and securing partsof buildings, such as walls, floors, partitions, panels and the like,also for knock down structures such as boxes, cabinets and shelving, forcargo tie-.downs and for the suspension of heavy pictures and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterreferred to, having few operating parts of simple, sturdy structure,thus minimizing the possibility of failure of the device rto functionproperly at all times.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, whichwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partly in section, of the two parts of myimproved fastening device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the housing member of the device.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showingthe parts connected.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view looking against the underside of the housingmember.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section and looking against theunderside of the housing.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate apreferred embodiment of my invention, I0 designates a plate, preferablyof metal, having its central portion pressed to form a shallow housing,comprising a circular wall I I and top plate or wall I2. This plate I0may be anchored to a floor or other element by means of screws whichpass through apertures i3 formed in said plate near its margin,

Formed in plate I2 of the housing, on opposite sides of the centerthereof and in diametric alignment, are apertures i4 and I5, which maydiffer in size as seen in Fig. 2.

Arranged for operation against the underface of plate l2, and pivotallymounted on a stud I6, seated in said plate between the apertures I4 andi5, is a pair of crossed arms Il, and formed in the inner edges of thoseportions of said arms which extend beneath aperture I5 are curved Ynotches I8.

Under normal conditions, the width of the opening formed by the notchesI8 is somewhat less than the diameter of aperture I5. (See Fig. 2.)

Studs I 9, seated in housing wall II, underlie those ends of the armsI'I having the notches I8, thus supporting said arms in proper operativeposition and counteracting any tendency of said arms to be forced awayfrom the plate I2 as the stud portion of thefastener passes between saidarms.

n Those portions of arms I1 which overlie each other are reduced to halfthickness, and thus the notched end portions of said arms occupy thesame plane.

Formed in the inner edges of the opposite end of portions of the armsVI1, beneath aperture I4, are curved notches 29, and passing therethroughis the intermediate portion of a rotary stud 2|, the upper end of whichisA enlarged to form a head 22, which occupiessaid aperture. Formed inthe outer face of head 22 is a slot 23, for the reception of the pointof a screw driver or like tool.

Secured to the lower end of stud 2| below the ends of the arms I1,having the notches 20, is a disc 24, and projecting upwardly therefromat diametrically opposite points are pins 25 which, as stud 2i isrotated, bear on the edges of said ctuved notches and swing said arms ontheir axis, the stud I6.

Depending from the ends of the arms I1, having the notches 20, are pins26, to which are connected the ends of a retractile coil spring 21.

The complementary member of the connection and fastener comprises a stud28, which may be suitably vanchored to an element such as a chair,table, wall, panel or the like, and connected to said stud by a neckportion 29 is a head 30 having a rounded or bevelledv lower edge 3|. Thediameter of head 30 is such that it will just pass through aperture I5,and the diameter oi neck A I 2,420,061 f i Nja 3 28 is equal to orslightly less than the Width of the opening formed by notches I8.

To connect the parts of the fastener, the member which carries stud 28is manipulated so as to move head 38 through aperture I5, and as thecurved lower edge 3I of said head engages the curved edges of notches I8the ends of the arms will be spread apart until said head passes belowsaid arms, whereupon the spring 21 acts to return the arms to theirnormal: positions -with` portions of said arms adjacent the notches I8positioned around the neck 29 above head 30,

thus effectively securing the connected parts to.

each other. (See Fig. 3.)

To disconnect the parts of the fastener, stud' 2l is rotated in eitherdirection approximately ninety degrees, by the application oi a screwdriver or the like, to slot 23 in head 22, thereby causing pins 25 tobear against the edges.; ofthe curved notches so as: to swing the endsof the arms apart, thus enabling head 3l` to be withdrawn fromengagement with notches I8. through aperture I5.

Theends of arms I1, provided with notches I8, have considerable width,.and such provision, with the plate I2, aiords two thicknessesV of metalto resist pulling strains` impressed on stud 28 and which tend towithdraw head 30 fromthe housing member of the device.

Thus it will beY seen that I haver provided a connecting and fasteningdevice which is simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and`very effective in performing the functions for which it isintended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and.construction oi the various parts of my improved fastening device may bemade and substitutedfor those herein shown. and described,V withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which issetforth, in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A fastener device comprising a plate provided with a stud-receivingaperture, a pair of crossed' arms, pivotally connected intermediatetheir ends and mounted on the under side of the plate with portions ofthe freeends of said arms underlying the plate aperture, and meansrotatably mounted. in the. plate spaced substantially from thestud-receiving aperture to engage the end portions of said arms ontheside of the fulcrum pivot opposite the. ends underlying the plateaperture for simultaneously spreading opposite ends of said arms torelease aA stud en gaged in said plate aperture.-

2. A fastener device comprising a -plate member provided with astud-receiving opening, a pair of crossed arms pivotally mounted in theunder side of said plate, said arms presenting at their opposite endsopposed stud-engaging jaws disposed in a common plane and actuating jawsdisposed in a. common plane with superposed bearing portionsintermediate their ends and surrounding the pivotal connection with theplate, and rotary means mounted in the plate above the actuator jaws andhaving eccentric portions disposed between said co-planar actuating jawsand' adapted uponv turning movement to spread saidactuating jawsand-simultaneously the stud-engaging jaws disposed below the plateaperture on the opposite side of the fulcrum pivot.

3'. A fastener device comprising a plate membernprovided with astud-receiving opening, a pair of levers pivoted to the under side ofsaid plate member and'presenting coplanar jaw portions. underlying saidplate opening, means mounted in the lcover remote from the cover openingandthe pivot connection. of. the; arms thereto for eiecting; spreadingof .the jaw. por,` tions` of said ,ar-ms., said means comprising. arotary member having an actuating head acces-.l sible on the upper face,of said; plate and a disc member underlying portions` of said levers,fingers rotatable with said stud and disposed between said levers,A foreffecting a` spreading, thereof, and. coil spring means; connecting saidlevers inthe region oi saiddisd,

4. A fastener device, comprising aY platemem-` ber provided with a`stud-receiving aperture a.- pair of. levers of the rst. class mountedQn. theJ under side of said plate andl havinga fulcrllm pvot adjacentsaidplate. opening, one end of said levers, presenting` Opposedstudrengaging jaws, underlying said, opening and the oppesitejend orsaid levers presenting, actuating jaws, spaced from said opening. onthe. Opposite side, of. the, fuicrum pivot, and rotary means mounted inthe` cover and having an, operative connection below. the cover with theactuating jaws whereby rota,-` tion of said rotary.Y means. will effectoperation. of said actuating jaws, and openingpf the stud-engaging jawsto release a, stud from said opening,

. ARTHURV R.. ADAMS,

` REFERENGES cIrEnf.

The following references are of record hr'the le ofthis-patent: Y

UNITED STATES' Number V Name Y .l Date, 146,829 Lindsay J an.27-, i874FQREIGN'BATENTS V Number 'Country 'Date f y f French July. @19.3.2

